Small Arms Review
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Guns & Parts
    • Suppressors
    • Optics & Thermals
    • Ammunition
    • Gear
    • News & Opinion
    • Columns
    • Museums & Factory Tours
    • ID Guides
    • Interviews
    • Event Coverage
    • Articles by Issue
      • Volume 1
        • V1N1 (Oct 1997)
        • V1N2 (Nov 1997)
        • V1N3 (Dec 1997)
        • V1N4 (Jan 1998)
        • V1N5 (Feb 1998)
        • V1N6 (Mar 1998)
        • V1N7 (Apr 1998)
        • V1N8 (May 1998)
        • V1N9 (Jun 1998)
        • V1N10 (Jul 1998)
        • V1N11 (Aug 1998)
        • V1N12 (Sep 1998)
      • Volume 2
        • V2N1 (Oct 1998)
        • V2N2 (Nov 1998)
        • V2N3 (Dec 1998)
        • V2N4 (Jan 1999)
        • V2N5 (Feb 1999)
        • V2N6 (Mar 1999)
        • V2N7 (Apr 1999)
        • V2N8 (May 1999)
        • V2N9 (Jun 1999)
        • V2N10 (Jul 1999)
        • V2N11 (Aug 1999)
        • V2N12 (Sep 1999)
      • Volume 3
        • V3N1 (Oct 1999)
        • V3N2 (Nov 1999)
        • V3N3 (Dec 1999)
        • V3N4 (Jan 2000)
        • V3N5 (Feb 2000)
        • V3N6 (Mar 2000)
        • V3N7 (Apr 2000)
        • V3N8 (May 2000)
        • V3N9 (Jun 2000)
        • V3N10 (Jul 2000)
        • V3N11 (Aug 2000)
        • V3N12 (Sep 2000)
      • Volume 4
        • V4N1 (Oct 2000)
        • V4N2 (Nov 2000)
        • V4N3 (Dec 2000)
        • V4N4 (Jan 2001)
        • V4N5 (Feb 2001)
        • V4N6 (Mar 2001)
        • V4N7 (Apr 2001)
        • V4N8 (May 2001)
        • V4N9 (Jun 2001)
        • V4N10 (Jul 2001)
        • V4N11 (Aug 2001)
        • V4N12 (Sep 2001)
      • Volume 5
        • V5N1 (Oct 2001)
        • V5N2 (Nov 2001)
        • V5N3 (Dec 2001)
        • V5N4 (Jan 2002)
        • V5N5 (Feb 2002)
        • V5N6 (Mar 2002)
        • V5N7 (Apr 2002)
        • V5N8 (May 2002)
        • V5N9 (Jun 2002)
        • V5N10 (Jul 2002)
        • V5N11 (Aug 2002)
        • V5N12 (Sep 2002)
      • Volume 6
        • V6N1 (Oct 2002)
        • V6N2 (Nov 2002)
        • V6N3 (Dec 2002)
        • V6N4 (Jan 2003)
        • V6N5 (Feb 2003)
        • V6N6 (Mar 2003)
        • V6N7 (Apr 2003)
        • V6N8 (May 2003)
        • V6N9 (Jun 2003)
        • V6N10 (Jul 2003)
        • V6N11 (Aug 2003)
        • V6N12 (Sep 2003)
      • Volume 7
        • V7N1 (Oct 2003)
        • V7N2 (Nov 2003)
        • V7N3 (Dec 2003)
        • V7N4 (Jan 2004)
        • V7N5 (Feb 2004)
        • V7N6 (Mar 2004)
        • V7N7 (Apr 2004)
        • V7N8 (May 2004)
        • V7N9 (Jun 2004)
        • V7N10 (Jul 2004)
        • V7N11 (Aug 2004)
        • V7N12 (Sep 2004)
      • Volume 8
        • V8N1 (Oct 2004)
        • V8N2 (Nov 2004)
        • V8N3 (Dec 2004)
        • V8N4 (Jan 2005)
        • V8N5 (Feb 2005)
        • V8N6 (Mar 2005)
        • V8N7 (Apr 2005)
        • V8N8 (May 2005)
        • V8N9 (Jun 2005)
        • V8N10 (Jul 2005)
        • V8N11 (Aug 2005)
        • V8N12 (Sep 2005)
      • Volume 9
        • V9N1 (Oct 2005)
        • V9N2 (Nov 2005)
        • V9N3 (Dec 2005)
        • V9N4 (Jan 2006)
        • V9N5 (Feb 2006)
        • V9N6 (Mar 2006)
        • V9N7 (Apr 2006)
        • V9N8 (May 2006)
        • V9N9 (Jun 2006)
        • V9N10 (Jul 2006)
        • V9N11 (Aug 2006)
        • V9N12 (Sep 2006)
      • Volume 10
        • V10N1 (Oct 2006)
        • V10N2 (Nov 2006)
        • V10N3 (Dec 2006)
        • V10N4 (Jan 2007)
        • V10N5 (Feb 2007)
        • V10N6 (Mar 2007)
        • V10N7 (Apr 2007)
        • V10N8 (May 2007)
        • V10N9 (Jun 2007)
        • V10N10 (Jul 2007)
        • V10N11 (Aug 2007)
        • V10N12 (Sep 2007)
      • Volume 11
        • V11N1 (Oct 2007)
        • V11N2 (Nov 2007)
        • V11N3 (Dec 2007)
        • V11N4 (Jan 2008)
        • V11N5 (Feb 2008)
        • V11N6 (Mar 2008)
        • V11N7 (Apr 2008)
        • V11N8 (May 2008)
        • V11N9 (Jun 2008)
        • V11N10 (Jul 2008)
        • V11N11 (Aug 2008)
        • V11N12 (Sep 2008)
      • Volume 12
        • V12N1 (Oct 2008)
        • V12N2 (Nov 2008)
        • V12N3 (Dec 2008)
        • V12N4 (Jan 2009)
        • V12N5 (Feb 2009)
        • V12N6 (Mar 2009)
        • V12N7 (Apr 2009)
        • V12N8 (May 2009)
        • V12N9 (Jun 2009)
        • V12N10 (Jul 2009)
        • V12N11 (Aug 2009)
        • V12N12 (Sep 2009)
      • Volume 13
        • V13N1 (Oct 2009)
        • V13N2 (Nov 2009)
        • V13N3 (Dec 2009)
        • V13N4 (Jan 2010)
        • V13N5 (Feb 2010)
        • V13N6 (Mar 2010)
        • V13N7 (Apr 2010)
        • V13N8 (May 2010)
        • V13N9 (Jun 2010)
        • V13N10 (Jul 2010)
        • V13N11 (Aug 2010)
        • V13N12 (Sep 2010)
      • Volume 14
        • V14N1 (Oct 2010)
        • V14N2 (Nov 2010)
        • V14N3 (Dec 2010)
          • Ammunition
        • V14N4 (Jan 2011)
        • V14N5 (Feb 2011)
        • V14N6 (Mar 2011)
        • V14N7 (Apr 2011)
        • V14N8 (May 2011)
        • V14N9 (Jun 2011)
        • V14N10 (Jul 2011)
        • V14N11 (Aug 2011)
        • V14N12 (Sep 2011)
      • Volume 15
        • V15N1 (Oct 2011)
        • V15N2 (Nov 2011)
        • V15N4 (Jan 2012)
        • V15N5 (Feb 2012)
      • Volume 16
        • V16N1 (1st Quarter 2012)
        • V16N2 (2nd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N3 (3rd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N4 (4th Quarter 2012)
      • Volume 17
        • V17N1 (1st Quarter 2013)
        • V17N2 (2nd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N3 (3rd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N4 (4th Quarter 2013)
      • Volume 18
        • V18N1 (Jan Feb 2014)
        • V18N2 (Mar Apr 2014)
        • V18N3 (May Jun 2014)
        • V18N4 (Jul Aug 2014)
        • V18N5 (Sep Oct 2014)
        • V18N6 (Nov Dec 2014)
      • Volume 19
        • V19N1 (Jan 2015)
        • V19N2 (Feb Mar 2015)
        • V19N3 (Apr 2015)
        • V19N4 (May 2015)
        • V19N5 (Jun 2015)
        • V19N6 (Jul 2015)
        • V19N7 (Aug Sep 2015)
        • V19N8 (Oct 2015)
        • V19N9 (Nov 2015)
        • V19N10 (Dec 2015)
      • Volume 20
        • V20N1 (Jan 2016)
        • V20N2 (Feb Mar 2016)
        • V20N3 (Apr 2016)
        • V20N4 (May 2016)
        • V20N5 (Jun 2016)
        • V20N6 (Jul 2016)
        • V20N7 (Aug Sep 2016)
        • V20N8 (Oct 2016)
        • V20N9 (Nov 2016)
        • V20N10 (Dec 2016)
      • Volume 21
        • V21N1 (Jan 2017)
        • V21N2 (Feb Mar 2017)
        • V21N3 (Apr 2017)
        • V21N4 (May 2017)
        • V21N5 (Jun 2017)
        • V21N6 (Jul 2017)
        • V21N7 (Aug Sep 2017)
        • V21N8 (Oct 2017)
        • V21N9 (Nov 2017)
        • V21N10 (Dec 2017)
      • Volume 22
        • V22N1 (Jan 2018)
        • V22N2 (Feb 2018)
        • V22N3 (March 2018)
        • V22N4 (Apr 2018)
        • V22N5 (May 2018)
        • V22N6 (Jun Jul 2018)
        • V22N7 (Aug Sep 2018)
        • V22N8 (Oct 2018)
        • V22N9 (Nov 2018)
        • V22N10 (Dec 2018)
      • Volume 23
        • V23N1 (Jan 2019)
        • V23N2 (Feb 2019)
        • V23N3 (Mar 2019)
        • V23N4 (Apr 2019)
        • V23N5 (May 2019)
        • V23N6 (Jun Jul 2019)
        • V23N7 (Aug Sep 2019)
        • V23N8 (Oct 2019)
        • V23N9 (Nov 2019)
        • V23N10 (Dec 2019)
      • Volume 24
        • V24N1 (Jan 2020)
        • V24N2 (Feb 2020)
        • V24N3 (Mar 2020)
        • V24N4 (Apr 2020)
        • V24N5 (May 2020)
        • V24N6 (Jun Jul 2020)
        • V24N7 (Aug Sep 2020)
        • V24N8 (Oct 2020)
        • V24N9 (Nov 2020)
        • V24N10 (Dec 2020)
  • The Archive
    • Search The Archive
  • Store
    • Books
    • Back Issues
    • Merchandise
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • FrankenGun Challenge
  • About
    • About Small Arms Review
    • About Chipotle Publishing
    • Contact Us
    • Other Publications
      • Small Arms Defense Journal
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Guns & Parts
    • Suppressors
    • Optics & Thermals
    • Ammunition
    • Gear
    • News & Opinion
    • Columns
    • Museums & Factory Tours
    • ID Guides
    • Interviews
    • Event Coverage
    • Articles by Issue
      • Volume 1
        • V1N1 (Oct 1997)
        • V1N2 (Nov 1997)
        • V1N3 (Dec 1997)
        • V1N4 (Jan 1998)
        • V1N5 (Feb 1998)
        • V1N6 (Mar 1998)
        • V1N7 (Apr 1998)
        • V1N8 (May 1998)
        • V1N9 (Jun 1998)
        • V1N10 (Jul 1998)
        • V1N11 (Aug 1998)
        • V1N12 (Sep 1998)
      • Volume 2
        • V2N1 (Oct 1998)
        • V2N2 (Nov 1998)
        • V2N3 (Dec 1998)
        • V2N4 (Jan 1999)
        • V2N5 (Feb 1999)
        • V2N6 (Mar 1999)
        • V2N7 (Apr 1999)
        • V2N8 (May 1999)
        • V2N9 (Jun 1999)
        • V2N10 (Jul 1999)
        • V2N11 (Aug 1999)
        • V2N12 (Sep 1999)
      • Volume 3
        • V3N1 (Oct 1999)
        • V3N2 (Nov 1999)
        • V3N3 (Dec 1999)
        • V3N4 (Jan 2000)
        • V3N5 (Feb 2000)
        • V3N6 (Mar 2000)
        • V3N7 (Apr 2000)
        • V3N8 (May 2000)
        • V3N9 (Jun 2000)
        • V3N10 (Jul 2000)
        • V3N11 (Aug 2000)
        • V3N12 (Sep 2000)
      • Volume 4
        • V4N1 (Oct 2000)
        • V4N2 (Nov 2000)
        • V4N3 (Dec 2000)
        • V4N4 (Jan 2001)
        • V4N5 (Feb 2001)
        • V4N6 (Mar 2001)
        • V4N7 (Apr 2001)
        • V4N8 (May 2001)
        • V4N9 (Jun 2001)
        • V4N10 (Jul 2001)
        • V4N11 (Aug 2001)
        • V4N12 (Sep 2001)
      • Volume 5
        • V5N1 (Oct 2001)
        • V5N2 (Nov 2001)
        • V5N3 (Dec 2001)
        • V5N4 (Jan 2002)
        • V5N5 (Feb 2002)
        • V5N6 (Mar 2002)
        • V5N7 (Apr 2002)
        • V5N8 (May 2002)
        • V5N9 (Jun 2002)
        • V5N10 (Jul 2002)
        • V5N11 (Aug 2002)
        • V5N12 (Sep 2002)
      • Volume 6
        • V6N1 (Oct 2002)
        • V6N2 (Nov 2002)
        • V6N3 (Dec 2002)
        • V6N4 (Jan 2003)
        • V6N5 (Feb 2003)
        • V6N6 (Mar 2003)
        • V6N7 (Apr 2003)
        • V6N8 (May 2003)
        • V6N9 (Jun 2003)
        • V6N10 (Jul 2003)
        • V6N11 (Aug 2003)
        • V6N12 (Sep 2003)
      • Volume 7
        • V7N1 (Oct 2003)
        • V7N2 (Nov 2003)
        • V7N3 (Dec 2003)
        • V7N4 (Jan 2004)
        • V7N5 (Feb 2004)
        • V7N6 (Mar 2004)
        • V7N7 (Apr 2004)
        • V7N8 (May 2004)
        • V7N9 (Jun 2004)
        • V7N10 (Jul 2004)
        • V7N11 (Aug 2004)
        • V7N12 (Sep 2004)
      • Volume 8
        • V8N1 (Oct 2004)
        • V8N2 (Nov 2004)
        • V8N3 (Dec 2004)
        • V8N4 (Jan 2005)
        • V8N5 (Feb 2005)
        • V8N6 (Mar 2005)
        • V8N7 (Apr 2005)
        • V8N8 (May 2005)
        • V8N9 (Jun 2005)
        • V8N10 (Jul 2005)
        • V8N11 (Aug 2005)
        • V8N12 (Sep 2005)
      • Volume 9
        • V9N1 (Oct 2005)
        • V9N2 (Nov 2005)
        • V9N3 (Dec 2005)
        • V9N4 (Jan 2006)
        • V9N5 (Feb 2006)
        • V9N6 (Mar 2006)
        • V9N7 (Apr 2006)
        • V9N8 (May 2006)
        • V9N9 (Jun 2006)
        • V9N10 (Jul 2006)
        • V9N11 (Aug 2006)
        • V9N12 (Sep 2006)
      • Volume 10
        • V10N1 (Oct 2006)
        • V10N2 (Nov 2006)
        • V10N3 (Dec 2006)
        • V10N4 (Jan 2007)
        • V10N5 (Feb 2007)
        • V10N6 (Mar 2007)
        • V10N7 (Apr 2007)
        • V10N8 (May 2007)
        • V10N9 (Jun 2007)
        • V10N10 (Jul 2007)
        • V10N11 (Aug 2007)
        • V10N12 (Sep 2007)
      • Volume 11
        • V11N1 (Oct 2007)
        • V11N2 (Nov 2007)
        • V11N3 (Dec 2007)
        • V11N4 (Jan 2008)
        • V11N5 (Feb 2008)
        • V11N6 (Mar 2008)
        • V11N7 (Apr 2008)
        • V11N8 (May 2008)
        • V11N9 (Jun 2008)
        • V11N10 (Jul 2008)
        • V11N11 (Aug 2008)
        • V11N12 (Sep 2008)
      • Volume 12
        • V12N1 (Oct 2008)
        • V12N2 (Nov 2008)
        • V12N3 (Dec 2008)
        • V12N4 (Jan 2009)
        • V12N5 (Feb 2009)
        • V12N6 (Mar 2009)
        • V12N7 (Apr 2009)
        • V12N8 (May 2009)
        • V12N9 (Jun 2009)
        • V12N10 (Jul 2009)
        • V12N11 (Aug 2009)
        • V12N12 (Sep 2009)
      • Volume 13
        • V13N1 (Oct 2009)
        • V13N2 (Nov 2009)
        • V13N3 (Dec 2009)
        • V13N4 (Jan 2010)
        • V13N5 (Feb 2010)
        • V13N6 (Mar 2010)
        • V13N7 (Apr 2010)
        • V13N8 (May 2010)
        • V13N9 (Jun 2010)
        • V13N10 (Jul 2010)
        • V13N11 (Aug 2010)
        • V13N12 (Sep 2010)
      • Volume 14
        • V14N1 (Oct 2010)
        • V14N2 (Nov 2010)
        • V14N3 (Dec 2010)
          • Ammunition
        • V14N4 (Jan 2011)
        • V14N5 (Feb 2011)
        • V14N6 (Mar 2011)
        • V14N7 (Apr 2011)
        • V14N8 (May 2011)
        • V14N9 (Jun 2011)
        • V14N10 (Jul 2011)
        • V14N11 (Aug 2011)
        • V14N12 (Sep 2011)
      • Volume 15
        • V15N1 (Oct 2011)
        • V15N2 (Nov 2011)
        • V15N4 (Jan 2012)
        • V15N5 (Feb 2012)
      • Volume 16
        • V16N1 (1st Quarter 2012)
        • V16N2 (2nd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N3 (3rd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N4 (4th Quarter 2012)
      • Volume 17
        • V17N1 (1st Quarter 2013)
        • V17N2 (2nd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N3 (3rd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N4 (4th Quarter 2013)
      • Volume 18
        • V18N1 (Jan Feb 2014)
        • V18N2 (Mar Apr 2014)
        • V18N3 (May Jun 2014)
        • V18N4 (Jul Aug 2014)
        • V18N5 (Sep Oct 2014)
        • V18N6 (Nov Dec 2014)
      • Volume 19
        • V19N1 (Jan 2015)
        • V19N2 (Feb Mar 2015)
        • V19N3 (Apr 2015)
        • V19N4 (May 2015)
        • V19N5 (Jun 2015)
        • V19N6 (Jul 2015)
        • V19N7 (Aug Sep 2015)
        • V19N8 (Oct 2015)
        • V19N9 (Nov 2015)
        • V19N10 (Dec 2015)
      • Volume 20
        • V20N1 (Jan 2016)
        • V20N2 (Feb Mar 2016)
        • V20N3 (Apr 2016)
        • V20N4 (May 2016)
        • V20N5 (Jun 2016)
        • V20N6 (Jul 2016)
        • V20N7 (Aug Sep 2016)
        • V20N8 (Oct 2016)
        • V20N9 (Nov 2016)
        • V20N10 (Dec 2016)
      • Volume 21
        • V21N1 (Jan 2017)
        • V21N2 (Feb Mar 2017)
        • V21N3 (Apr 2017)
        • V21N4 (May 2017)
        • V21N5 (Jun 2017)
        • V21N6 (Jul 2017)
        • V21N7 (Aug Sep 2017)
        • V21N8 (Oct 2017)
        • V21N9 (Nov 2017)
        • V21N10 (Dec 2017)
      • Volume 22
        • V22N1 (Jan 2018)
        • V22N2 (Feb 2018)
        • V22N3 (March 2018)
        • V22N4 (Apr 2018)
        • V22N5 (May 2018)
        • V22N6 (Jun Jul 2018)
        • V22N7 (Aug Sep 2018)
        • V22N8 (Oct 2018)
        • V22N9 (Nov 2018)
        • V22N10 (Dec 2018)
      • Volume 23
        • V23N1 (Jan 2019)
        • V23N2 (Feb 2019)
        • V23N3 (Mar 2019)
        • V23N4 (Apr 2019)
        • V23N5 (May 2019)
        • V23N6 (Jun Jul 2019)
        • V23N7 (Aug Sep 2019)
        • V23N8 (Oct 2019)
        • V23N9 (Nov 2019)
        • V23N10 (Dec 2019)
      • Volume 24
        • V24N1 (Jan 2020)
        • V24N2 (Feb 2020)
        • V24N3 (Mar 2020)
        • V24N4 (Apr 2020)
        • V24N5 (May 2020)
        • V24N6 (Jun Jul 2020)
        • V24N7 (Aug Sep 2020)
        • V24N8 (Oct 2020)
        • V24N9 (Nov 2020)
        • V24N10 (Dec 2020)
  • The Archive
    • Search The Archive
  • Store
    • Books
    • Back Issues
    • Merchandise
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • FrankenGun Challenge
  • About
    • About Small Arms Review
    • About Chipotle Publishing
    • Contact Us
    • Other Publications
      • Small Arms Defense Journal
No Result
View All Result
Small Arms Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Articles

Ruger Police Carbine

Scott Barbour by Scott Barbour
August 3, 2022
in Articles, Articles by Issue, Guns & Parts, Search by Issue, V3N10 (Jul 2000), Volume 3
Ruger Police Carbine
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Mark White

In order to cope with the increasing violence in today’s world the law enforcement community continues in its search for more effective weapons and tactics.  A recent study on the subject in the U.S. revealed an 87% miss rate with an officer’s duty sidearm in the heat of contact.  Put another way, when an officer was forced to use his duty pistol in defense of life, 87% of the rounds expended under stress failed to strike the attacker.

Sequentially, the high miss rate causes two problems: 1. The unharmed perp remains free to continue his assault. 2. The rounds that missed may impact innocent bystanders, with severe painful, moral, emotional and legal ramifications.


For those who have been there, the emotional stress of being in combat causes peripheral awareness and fine motor control to vanish. For most, there is a significant difference between shooting at paper and shooting at a human being who represents a threat.

Ruger Police Carbine is available in 9mm and .40 S&W.


Before we get into the Ruger carbine, it might prove useful to look at a bit of history and precedent. Since the days of the U. S. Civil War (called the War Between the States in the south) it has been recognized that a firearm which is held and sighted like a rifle is inherently more accurate than a pistol. For those who desire specifics, a rifle is on the order of 16 times more accurate than a pistol. This is very apparent in the rough and tumble atmosphere of CQB. A rifle’s greater accuracy is due primarily to the way it is held and sighted, since barrel length (within reason) means little in terms of accuracy. A five or ten inch barrel is capable of delivering accuracy greater than or equal to barrels approaching 30 inches in length. With regard to power, a pistol cartridge is capable of developing most of its energy inside a five-inch barrel, and doubling barrel length will typically add a mere 10% to the velocity. Increasing its length to 18-inches, the legal minimum in Canada, will usually reduce velocity over that achieved with a five-inch barrel.


Some in the Civil War carried short carbines with barrels between 12 and 14 inches in length. In 1934 American legislators levied an (at the time) excessive $200 tax on carbines with barrels shorter than 16 inches. The result of this single action effectively stifled the development of truly compact carbines in the U.S.


Here we are, almost 70 years later, and our nation’s squad cars are primarily outfitted with pump action, 12 gauge shotguns. While I happen to like shotguns, they are often too much or too little. When used with slugs they may go through both sides of an automobile. They will penetrate quite a number of walls in an ordinary house, and are capable of easily killing innocents within. It is for this reason that shotgun slugs are rarely issued for urban duty.


When used with buckshot against an exposed, unarmored opponent under 30 yards a shotgun may be effective. At greater ranges, against body armor, against heavy or heavily clothed opponents, against a drugged individual, or behind tempered glass, buckshot is often ineffective.
In a recent attempt to stop a dangerous felon in a moving car trapped within a closed parking lot in Georgia, police officers discharged 17 rounds of 12 gauge buckshot from their duty shotguns at the suspect as he attempted to back over them repeatedly with a small car. The shots were primarily fired from the rear, and none of the 153 projectiles managed to penetrate the lightly built Japanese vehicle. Most of the pellets skipped over the rear windshield to impact the walls and windows of nearby apartments. Again, none of the projectiles penetrated the vehicle effectively. In fact, when the vehicle was finally restrained the suspect was totally unharmed (by gunfire).

The bolt is connected to a massive block of steel through two steel straps under the action.


In another recent shooting in a wealthy southeastern community, an intrusion alarm was activated when three thieves entered a large metal building. This happened during a shift change, so double the contingency of officers responded, with sirens blaring. Two perpetrators were apprehended quickly. The third, a large, heavy man, ran to a nearby wooded area. As the perimeter tightened the man charged a large group of the responding officers, yelling obscenities and firing a pistol at them as he ran. Big mistake. The officers returned fire with their duty shotguns, charged with buckshot. Those who visited the scene later mentioned that an outline of the suspect could be seen against one wall of the metal building, caused by those pellets that struck the sheet metal around the suspect.


While the buckshot ultimately stopped the suspect, it was only the large quantity of lead that brought him down. At a nearby hospital some 160 pellets were removed from the suspect, while 55 were allowed to remain. Surprisingly, the wounds were not fatal, and the perp later stood at trial for burglary and assault with a deadly weapon.


Both Glock and Ruger have maintained a police carbine in a major pistol caliber in the design and prototype stages for many years. It took events like the FBI/ Miami Shootout and the ’88 Palm Bay (Florida) shootings to get the enforcement community to realize that pistols and shotguns are often not effective against opponents armed with accurate carbines. It only takes a single round to end most armed confrontations, but that single round must be properly directed. Unlike the carbine, a single shot fired from a duty shotgun will direct either 9 or 11 pellets down range, and a sworn officer may be held legally accountable for each and every projectile in a court of law.


I credit Col. Jeff Cooper with reintroducing the concept of snap shooting with a carbine. With practice, the snap shot from a rifle or a carbine can be very fast. Experience tells us that a rifle shot will be considerably more accurate than a shot from a pistol.


For many years Marlin has produced their Camp Carbine in 9mm and .45 ACP. While the Marlin Camp Carbine is short and handy, Marlin neither officially recommends nor endorses it for enforcement use. It is a bit fragile, and those used by departments have not held up well to heavy use. Then too, there is the occasional problem of the hammer on a Marlin Camp Carbine riding back over the center of effort of its spring, sticking there, and rendering the weapon inoperable until it is field stripped. This is a major liability in a weapon intended for combat.
Ruger has been smarting for years over the “Barbarian” from Austria who (biblically speaking) stormed into the midst of the U.S. with an accurate, lightweight, reliable pistol, and captured the extensive law enforcement market in this country. Glock had the opportunity to introduce their carbine as a companion piece to their pistols, using magazines that were interchangeable. For some reason Glock decided not to do this. Ruger does have a modest share of the enforcement pistol market, and eventually took the plunge, using interchangeable magazines as a major selling point. The concept is a sound one, but the battle among 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP clouds the waters.
While at the SHOT Show in Vegas a couple years ago I visited Ruger’s booth and again spoke with their law enforcement representative, as well as two of the people responsible for developing and testing the police carbine. Eventually a Ruger carbine was sent to me for testing and evaluation. I wanted it chambered in .40 S&W, but received the loaner carbine in 9mm instead. Oh well…

Top view of action


Getting the stats out of the way, Ruger’s Police Carbine is short, rugged and handy, measuring a scant 34.5-inches in overall length. It has a 16-inch barrel, which is a surprise to me, as most of Ruger’s other carbine barrels measure 18.5-inches, so they can be sold in Canada. The stock is molded in reinforced Zytel plastic, and has a soft, grippy molded rubber buttplate on the rear. The trigger is heavy and positive, breaking at roughly 9 pounds. This is a combat weapon, and we don’t want an officer accidentally putting a round through a wall under the heat of stress. I actually like the trigger as stiff as it is. One’s finger softens the break-jump when part of the trigger disappears into the cast-in-place trigger guard. The safety is of the sliding, cross-bolt type, positioned directly behind the trigger. It is accessible and positive.
The actual length of pull is slightly more than 13.7-inches. Jeff Cooper’s preferred length of pull is 12.5-inches for a rifle. A pull of close to 14-inches is a bit long, since most officers will be using the weapon while they are wearing body armor, and that will increase the pull even more. I would like to see the stock shortened another inch, or even a bit more, to accommodate a vest and to allow faster handling. I am six-feet tall, and carry a lightweight, five-pound, .308 carbine with a 12.5-inch pull when I am in Alaska. Anything longer snags on clothing—slowing rapid mounting of the stock to the shoulder.


Ruger’s carbine carries sights which are adequate for the purpose, but which have deficiencies. The normal rear sight is a straight notch in a blade, moderately protected by slight bulge in the plastic barrel cover. A rear peep or ghost ring sight was carefully researched and worked out during WW II. Such a sight is carried on the M1, M1 Carbine, M14 and M16. It is rugged, fast and accurate. It is my feeling that the ghost ring style of iron sight cannot be improved upon, and Ruger does currently offer the ghost ring sight as an option. Ruger’s front carbine sight is a straight blade, integrally cast between two small ears to protect it. It is my feeling that the ears should curl more to each side, to prevent someone from accidentally using one of the ears as a sight instead of the central blade, which could cause a miss in the heat of battle. While this may sound like an unbelievably dumb thing to do, I wouldn’t be mentioning it if it hadn’t already happened on more than one occasion. The front sight is fixed, and it is pinned into position on a step on the front of the barrel. All of the sight correction has to be handled by the adjustable rear sight, which appears to have been taken directly off Ruger’s MK II, .22 LR target pistol. The rear sight is a bit fragile, and could stand some beefing up.


A Zytel barrel cover is held at the front by Ruger’s traditional cast aluminum barrel band. The flimsy cover is held at the rear by a spring clip that fits over two heavy cuts in the barrel’s breech, considerably reducing the barrel’s thickness at this point. Curiously, the muzzle end of the barrel is quite thick, while the rear is weakened and made quite thin. The main heat and pressure are generated at the rear, where the barrel should be thick. The muzzle end could actually be reduced in diameter. Overall, the rear of the barrel should be thicker than what it presently is, while the muzzle end could be turned to a thinner diameter. This is precisely the reverse of the way it currently is. Once again, cosmetics won out over strength and utility. This is not good on a weapon that is purported to be a police carbine and intended to be used in a rugged combat environment.

The Ruger Police Carbine separated into major groups.


The cast steel receiver is an upper unit that houses an upper bolt. The upper bolt is connected by two heavy steel straps to a lower bolt that rides on a rod and a recoil spring in the forearm, bearing some similarity to the M1 Carbine and the Mini 14. Since this weapon is blowback operated, a considerable amount of weight reciprocates back and forth, divided more or less equally among the upper bolt, the connecting steel straps, and a lower bolt that rides on the rod beneath the barrel. It is a moderately efficient use of space, but not of weight. The sturdy stock weighs a little over two pounds, while the barrel and action weigh close to 4.5-pounds. When the weapon is loaded with a full magazine it weighs close to 8-pounds. Much of the considerable weight resides in the reciprocating mass of the bolt assembly.


The receiver hooks into a metal insert in the stock at the rear, and is held with a small screw through the bottom of the stock at the front. Slots in the top of the receiver will take the patented Ruger scope rings. I have known people who mounted a scope (and a suppressor in .40 S&W) on the police carbine, but a scope makes the weapon more fragile, and detracts from its use as a pistol-caliber carbine.


The weapon is fairly handy as it is, and is fairly accurate in rough-and-ready, offhand use. It will be considerably more accurate under combat conditions than a handgun. When put to use in a cruiser the carbine will either rest in a rack near the driving patrolman, or lie unused for months and rattle around in the trunk. The carbine has to be tough and reliable, and by-and-large, it is.


What would I change? First, the carbine is still too long for its intended use. I would cut at least an inch off the buttstock to reduce the pull, making it quicker and handier to shoulder. Then, I would shorten the fore end of the stock one-inch, and take six inches off the muzzle end of the barrel, finishing it at roughly ten-inches. That would then make the carbine an NFA weapon with an overall length of roughly 27-inches. By comparison, H&K’s excellent 9mm PDW (personal defense weapon) carries a six inch barrel, weighs about five pounds, and measures about 23-inches in length when its folding stock is deployed. While the PDW is an accurate weapon, I believe a modified Ruger Police Carbine would be even more accurate, as its stock is more rigid and more ergonomic.


I would thicken the Ruger stock in the wrist and action area. A plastic stock can be thick where necessary without paying a penalty in either material or weight, although the steel molding dies will have to be thickened to accommodate such a change. There are no sling swivels. While this weapon doesn’t need an ordinary sling, it does need some sort of carry or retention strap on its butt or grip, so an officer can hang or attach his weapon to his body while handcuffing suspects. Most departments have specific rules that mandate than an officer will never lay his weapon down while handling suspects. Those rules exist for a reason, and Ruger would do well to invest in a minimal strap retention system that works without being in the way.


If possible, I would reduce the reciprocating weight of the bolt to make the weapon a little lighter. I would then refine the front sight a bit, as mentioned earlier, and add a more rugged aperture sight to the receiver. And, of course, I would eliminate the nasty slices taken out of the barrel’s breech, thicken the rear portion of the barrel a bit, and taper the front slightly.


With intelligent refinement about two pounds could be taken from the barreled action, yielding a carbine that would be as accurate, yet lighter, shorter and handier. It would take a BATF Form 5 to transfer to a police department, yet these forms are free of charge and go through fairly quickly, supposedly within 20 days.


Both the barrel and the stock can be structurally considered as beams, and shortening will allow them to become automatically lighter, while retaining similar levels of strength. While a shorter 10-inch barrel will produce an energy level similar to a 16-inch barrel in a pistol cartridge, the strain on the bolt and buffer system will be lessened because the pressure curve will drop sooner. This may sound unreasonable, but we see it often when shortening barrels on blowback pistols and subguns. A cartridge doesn’t really release its hold on chamber walls until the pressure drops substantially. The heavier bullets found in .40 S&W and .45 ACP cartridges will increase the blowback effect over the relatively lighter 9mm bullets. A rubber buffer will be much lighter in weight, allowing at least a pound to be removed from the bolt.


In summary, in spite of its current shortcomings, I really do like Ruger’s police carbine. It is a sound concept that has been a long time in coming. It is still in an early stage of development and needs refinement. If the Mini-14 can weigh about the same, yet deliver over three times the energy, there is no reason why the police carbine can’t be refined to weigh considerably less than it currently does. Law enforcement has been slow to adopt the carbine. It hasn’t sold as well as it should have, and the weapon is now being released to the civilian market. Ruger has traditionally mandated that none of its NFA weapons will be released to Class III dealers. One result of this is that its compact 9mm subgun has sold poorly to police departments. Without dealers to aggressively hawk its wares few manufacturers will ever be able to sell niche products in a specialized industry. While Ruger continues to be the largest firearm manufacturer in the U.S., some of its products have been released without being fully refined and developed, and as a result have sold poorly. I hope that our comments are taken seriously, and that Ruger does refine its police carbine into a light, short, handy tactical weapon.

This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V3N10 (July 2000)

Author

  • SAR Staff
    SAR Staff

    View all posts

Tags: 2000Mark WhitePoliceRugerV3N10
Previous Post

Road Testing the STAR 9mm Largo

Next Post

Band of Brothers

Next Post

Band of Brothers

TRENDING STORIES

  • U.S. NAVY MK18 MOD O CUSTOM CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT WEAPON FOR THE SEAFARING SERVICE

    U.S. NAVY MK18 MOD O CUSTOM CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT WEAPON FOR THE SEAFARING SERVICE

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Recreational Use Of 40MM Grenade Launchers

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Customizing the Already Custom SIG P320 Spectre Comp

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Col. Rex Applegate: The Knife Designs of a Close-Combat Legend

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Evolution of the U.S. Grenade Launcher From World War II to Today’s Conflicts

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
U.S. NAVY MK18 MOD O CUSTOM CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT WEAPON FOR THE SEAFARING SERVICE

U.S. NAVY MK18 MOD O CUSTOM CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT WEAPON FOR THE SEAFARING SERVICE

Recreational Use Of 40MM Grenade Launchers

Recreational Use Of 40MM Grenade Launchers

SIG Spectre Comp with AXG Grip Module

Customizing the Already Custom SIG P320 Spectre Comp

Col. Rex Applegate: The Knife Designs of a Close-Combat Legend

Col. Rex Applegate: The Knife Designs of a Close-Combat Legend

New Review: V19N1

New Review: V23N3

SAR|Special

SAR|Special

The Grand Power Q100

The Grand Power Q100

A Fading Star: The star S135 Submachine Gun, That is

A Fading Star: The star S135 Submachine Gun, That is

The Iron Door: Soviet Russian Weapons Designers Stop the Germans in Their Tracks

The Iron Door: Soviet Russian Weapons Designers Stop the Germans in Their Tracks

The American FN FAL Rifle: In Search of the Perfect Lightweight Rifle

The American FN FAL Rifle: In Search of the Perfect Lightweight Rifle

Ahead of Its Time: British Fosbery Pump-Action Shotgun with “Stoner” Bolt

Ahead of Its Time: British Fosbery Pump-Action Shotgun with “Stoner” Bolt

The Big Bang! : Great American Fun at the 2018 Big Sandy Machine Gun Shoot in Wikieup, AZ

The Big Bang! : Great American Fun at the 2018 Big Sandy Machine Gun Shoot in Wikieup, AZ

QUICK LINKS

  • About Chipotle Publishing
  • About Small Arms Review
  • Advertise with Us
  • Write for Us

CONTACT DETAILS

  • Phone: +1 (702) 565-0746
  • E-mail: office@smallarmsreview.com
  • Web: www.chipotlepublishing.com
  • Chipotle Publishing, LLC 631 N. Stephanie St., No. 282, Henderson, NV 89014
Small Arms Review

FOLLOW US

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

© 2022 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Guns & Parts
    • Suppressors
    • Optics & Thermals
    • Ammunition
    • Gear
    • News & Opinion
    • Columns
    • Museums & Factory Tours
    • ID Guides
    • Interviews
    • Event Coverage
    • Articles by Issue
      • Volume 1
      • Volume 2
      • Volume 3
      • Volume 4
      • Volume 5
      • Volume 6
      • Volume 7
      • Volume 8
      • Volume 9
      • Volume 10
      • Volume 11
      • Volume 12
      • Volume 13
      • Volume 14
      • Volume 15
      • Volume 16
      • Volume 17
      • Volume 18
      • Volume 19
      • Volume 20
      • Volume 21
      • Volume 22
      • Volume 23
      • Volume 24
  • The Archive
    • Search The Archive
  • Store
    • Books
    • Back Issues
    • Merchandise
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • FrankenGun Challenge
  • About
    • About Small Arms Review
    • About Chipotle Publishing
    • Contact Us
    • Other Publications
      • Small Arms Defense Journal

© 2022 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Are you in the know?
Stay up to date with the latest articles.

Facebook-f Linkedin Instagram

Redirecting to External Website

You are leaving the Small Arms Review website and will be redirected to an external link in a 5 Seconds.
VISIT NOW!